Balmoral - sizing, style, etc.

[auld argonian]

I would point out that there are "non-clan" clan badges available.

http://www.tartanweb.com/shop/highla...cap-badge.html

(No commercial endorsement intended...just the first site with a clear picture.)

I think that I've seen simpler versions of the St. Andrew's Cross, Irish Harps, Scottish Lions, etc. So there are options if you feel that you don't want to wear a naked balmoral.

Best

AA

[thescot]

Good show, Tobus. And good luck with the missus. Wine and a nice dinner often work wonders, especially if you are kilted and the other women notice. Well . . . maybe.

As for NewEnglander's tweed hat: I like the look of that hat, but it's technically a tam-o-shanter, not a balmoral. It has seams; a balmoral is made from one solid piece of wool with a grosgrain ribbon sweatband. (I will not address the old style bonnie blue bonnets here which are another beast all together.)

Mossie Croft's claim that the grosgrain (not "cross grain" as the ebay add says) is a source of complaint is a specious argument, I think. Making tams the way they do is cheaper, and I do not find the wool-against-my-forehead style more comfortable. In fact, it makes my head itch! I love my regimental tams, but they were a terror to get used to.

Not a big deal, but, like a said, a technical comment.

As to wearing a badge--you can choose other than clan badges. If you get one of the lighter weight material hats, I have found that the weight of a pewter clan badge will pull the side of the tam/bonnet down over the left side and look awful (IMHO!). You need something to stiffen it up on the badge side, I think.

You can easily make a really nice--and unique--cockade out of groagrain ribbon similar to the two gentlemen on the right of craigdhubh's photo above. I have made quite a few--white, white-and-blue, red-and-blue, etc. The ribbon is readily available from any material store, and Thompson's So Youre Going to Wear . . . gives some pretty good instructions. He recoomends you choose the livery colors of your chief's arms, and that's a good start. Heck, I'll even make you one for a low price if you want me to.

Or just pick out colors you like if you don't pay feilty to any chief. And pick a badge or pin you like. I usually tend to wear either a USMC clan-type badge or a Masonic badge on my own bonnets, especially since I have some nice badges that are lighter than the heavy pewter badges available. The sterling silver Knight's of St Andrew is very striking on my black bonnet.

Good luck, and post lots of photos.

[Tobus]

Well, like I said earlier, it isn't that wearing a clan badge is a problem. I already have a clan-badge style kilt pin for the clan that matches my tartan (which I claim through my mother's side). So it's not that I was looking for alternatives to a clan badge. I was only wondering if the badge was necessary, since I didn't necessarily want to spend the money on a badge until I was sure the Balmoral was for me.

[thescot]

P.S. Here are a couple of the badges I wear:

IMG]http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p220/thescot/KnightofStAndrewbadge.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p220/thescot/KnightofStAndrewbadge.jpg

This one is cool, but it's also very heavy.
IMG]http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p220/thescot/USMCCapBadge.jpg[/IMG]

I can't find the Knight of St. Andrew pin photo, but it's the jewel of the 29th in Sterling silver, about 1 1/2" - 2" tall, and it's pretty nice, too. I'll have to take a picture.

[Mael Coluim]

Tobus,
In your deliberations check outDunadd Trading Company that offers Robert Mackie balmoral bonnets and tams. Mackie is a renown bonnet maker with distinguished heritage. I think the tams are rather sharp.

The Scottish Tartans Museum carries a full range of bonnets. I especially like the Ferguson Britt bonnet at the bottom of this page. I have one on order.

Good luck in your quest!

[Mael Coluim]

Here’s theScot pix:

[Mael Coluim]

I've hesitated on buying a bonnet because of the pom-pom and bow. But just last night I ordered THIS balmoral. It'll be tweed and have no toorie or ribbons. The seller was prompt and very helpful with my questions.
Just another option, one that might be more palatable to the wife.
Good luck!

That is indeed a good find!

[B R Gordon]

A got a black Balmoral bonnet with black torrie from Keltoi Gaelic Clothing. The bonnet was made by Robert Mackie and it's by far the nicest one I've seen, it's comfortable and true to size. I wear it just about every day during the cold weather, kilted or not. Now I have to decide what I'm going to wear when the weather turns warmer.

[ForresterModern]

Mackie does custom color balmorals for a price---just contact the company and inquire about your desires and potential costs. you can choos diced or no, even the colors used in the dicing, as well as main body color an toorie color. Probably not cheap but if you want something unique they are probably the best way to go for high quality life long goods.

[thescot]

Here's a better IMHO photo of a regimental tam. I really like the look.